I bolted to the tiny bathroom and heaved over the toilet. My stomach churned, but I'd barely eaten yesterday—just brought up some acid.
I leaned against the cold tile, gasping.
What the hell?
I thought back over the past few weeks. Nausea. Exhaustion. Sensitivity to smells. Constant drowsiness...
A terrible thought flashed through my mind.
No... couldn't be...
I tore through my bag, counting days. When was my last period? The more I thought, the more my stomach dropped.
At least six weeks.
I sat on the floor, cold all over.
I practically ran out of the motel. This town might be dying, but it still had a barely-functioning pharmacy. I bought three different pregnancy tests and locked myself in a public restroom.
Five minutes later, three tests lined up in front of me.
Two lines. Two lines. Two lines.
I was pregnant.
I was carrying Kirill Orlov's child.
I squatted in that disinfectant-reeking public bathroom, staring at those three tests, mind blank.
Was God messing with me? When my life was already this fucked?
Letting me find out I had a tiny life growing inside me. A life connected to mine by blood.
Aiden's nephew or niece.
I sat in that bathroom forever. Until someone banged on the door, complaining I'd been in there too long.
Finally, I stood up, threw the tests in the trash and walked out.
Julian was waiting outside.
He'd changed into casual clothes, but still had that bone-deep elegance. Seeing my pale face, he frowned.
"You okay? You look awful."
I opened my mouth. Didn't know what to say.
Of course I wasn't okay. I'd just found out I was pregnant with that bastard's kid, and I was broke and homeless.
"I'm fine," I forced a smile. "Probably just low blood sugar. Didn't eat yesterday."
Julian clearly didn't buy it, but didn't push.
"Let me get you some food."
We went to the town's only restaurant—a burger and fries joint. Julian ordered for me, then sat across from me, watching quietly while I ate.
His stare was too direct. Made me uncomfortable.
